Pharma Giants On The Move: Major Mergers & Acquisitions You Need To Know

The pharmaceutical industry is no stranger to big moves, and in the past three months, mergers and acquisitions have been reshaping the industry like never before! From multi-billion dollar buyouts to strategic collaborations, these deals are not just about expanding market share — they are about teaming up to create new medicines, improve patient care, and stay ahead in a competitive market. 

In this article, we are going to take a closer and quick look at the most significant deals making headlines, how they’re changing the industry, and what it all means for the future of healthcare. Being a pharma professional, you must definitely take a look into these big acquisition & merger news today, check them out! 

1. Mankind Pharma Nearing $1.5B Acquisition Of Bharat Serums

Mankind Pharma Ltd. is reportedly the top candidate to buy Bharat Serums & Vaccines Ltd. in a deal that could be worth around $1.5 billion. Mankind Pharma, known for products like Manforce Condoms and Prega News pregnancy tests, is said to be close to purchasing a major stake in Bharat Serums from Advent International. The deal could be announced in the next few weeks. Advent, which bought most of Bharat Serums in 2019, is looking to exit and return money to investors. Talks are still ongoing, and there’s a chance another buyer might come forward.

2. Dr Reddy’s Nears Deal To Acquire Nicotinell From Haleon

Dr Reddy's Laboratories, an Indian pharmaceutical company, is set to acquire the anti-smoking medication Nicotinell from Haleon, a UK-based firm. The deal, which might be announced soon, could cost hundreds of millions of pounds. Dr Reddy's, valued at about $11.7 billion, has been in talks for several months and aims to expand its product portfolio. Nicotinell, which includes nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges, is a major player in nicotine replacement therapies. This potential acquisition follows Haleon's recent separation from GlaxoSmithKline and comes just before a planned UK general election that could affect anti-smoking legislation.

3. Lupin Acquires US Generics Giant Gavis For A Whopping $880 Million

Lupin Ltd, India's fourth-largest pharmaceutical company, is buying Gavis Pharmaceuticals LLC and its affiliate Novel Laboratories Inc. for $880 million (about ₹5,600 crore). This purchase will help Lupin expand its presence in the US generics market, especially in dermatology and other specialized products. Lupin aims to strengthen its US market position, where its sales have recently dropped significantly. Gavis, based in New Jersey, had $96 million in sales last year and will now be Lupin's first manufacturing site in the US. The deal also gives Lupin access to Gavis’s 66 pending drug applications and over 65 products in development, which could potentially be worth $9 billion.

4. Evofem Biosciences Acquires Lupin's US Women's Health Division

Lupin has sold its US women's health specialty business to Evofem Biosciences, a company focusing on women's health. This sale, for an undisclosed amount, aligns with Lupin's plan to concentrate on areas like respiratory and neurological diseases in the US. The business includes Solosec, a medication for treating certain infections. Lupin could earn up to $84 million from this deal, depending on future milestones. After the announcement, Lupin’s stock price increased by 1.7%. Lupin’s President, Fabrice Egros, stated that this move supports their strategy to enhance their specialty business in specific therapeutic areas.

5. Pharma Giant Boehringer Ingelheim Acquires Nerio Therapeutics In Major Industry Move

Boehringer Ingelheim has bought Nerio Therapeutics Inc. for up to $1.3 billion to boost its cancer treatment efforts. Nerio has developed promising drugs that target specific proteins to help the immune system fight cancer. This deal will add these new treatments to Boehringer Ingelheim's lineup, offering more options for treating cancer, either alone or alongside other therapies. Both companies are excited about the potential to improve cancer care with these innovative treatments.

6. Thermo Fisher Announces Completion Of Olink Acquisition & Offering Period Launch

Thermo Fisher Scientific has completed its purchase of Olink Holding AB for about $3.1 billion. This deal brings Olink’s advanced proteomics technology into Thermo Fisher’s Life Sciences Solutions segment. Thermo Fisher's CEO, Marc N. Casper, emphasized that this acquisition will enhance their protein research capabilities, which is crucial for understanding human biology and advancing precision medicine.

Thermo Fisher’s subsidiary, Orion Acquisition AB, has bought nearly all of Olink’s shares at $26 each. The initial offer period ended on July 9, 2024, with about 98.2% of Olink’s shares and American Depositary Shares (ADSs) tendered. A subsequent offering period is open until July 16, 2024, during which additional shares can be tendered at the same price. After this period, Thermo Fisher also plans to use compulsory redemption to acquire any remaining shares.

7. Eli Lilly Acquires Morphic to Expand IBD Treatment Portfolio

Eli Lilly and Co. has bought the biopharmaceutical company Morphic Holding, Inc., which is known for developing oral treatments for serious chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Morphic's key drug, MORF-057, is an oral medication that targets a specific protein involved in IBD. Lilly’s chief scientific officer, Daniel Skovronsky, emphasized the company’s dedication to improving treatments for difficult conditions like IBD. With this acquisition, Lilly aims to enhance its capabilities in gastroenterology and explore new combination therapies to offer better treatment options for patients.

8. Roche Acquires LumiraDx's Point-of-Care Tech To Boost Global Diagnostics

Roche has agreed to buy LumiraDx's Point of Care technology, pending regulatory and antitrust approvals. This acquisition will allow Roche to integrate LumiraDx's multi-assay device into its global operations, including R&D and commercial sites. The device can perform various tests on a single platform and has the potential to expand into molecular testing. This will help Roche offer more decentralized patient care and faster diagnostic results worldwide, improving access to testing, especially in primary care and lower-income regions. Roche will also collaborate with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a rapid TB test as part of this platform. The deal is expected to be finalized by the end of 2023.

9. Bora Pharmaceuticals Expands US Footprint with Major Acquisition of Emergent Biosolution’s Maryland Facility

On June 20, Bora Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Taiwan, announced its acquisition of a sterile manufacturing facility from Emergent BioSolutions. The 87,000-square-foot site in Camden, Maryland, will enhance Bora’s manufacturing capabilities for sterile injectables, including lyophilization, vial filling, and pre-filled syringe filling. The $30 million deal includes the transfer of assets, equipment, and about 350 employees, with the transaction expected to close in Q3, subject to standard conditions.

This acquisition is a strategic move for Bora to strengthen its U.S. presence and expand its sterile drug product manufacturing and biologics development capabilities. Bora also plans to upgrade the Camden facility and retain the current staff. The purchase follows Bora’s $210 million acquisition of Upsher-Smith Laboratories earlier this year, which also aimed at expanding its North American operations. With these acquisitions, Bora now operates two U.S. facilities, five in Taiwan, and one in Canada. Emergent BioSolutions is restructuring, including closing its Baltimore and Rockville sites and laying off 300 employees, to cut costs by up to $80 million.

10. Merck Completes Acquisition of EyeBio, Advances Restoret™ for Retinal Diseases

Merck has completed its acquisition of EyeBio, making EyeBio a part of Merck. This move strengthens Merck's late-stage drug development, especially with EyeBio’s promising treatment for certain eye diseases. Dr. Dean Y. Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories, is excited about working with the EyeBio team to advance a drug called Restoret, which has shown promise in early trials for treating diabetic eye issues and age-related vision problems. Restoret is expected to begin a major clinical trial later this year. EyeBio also has other treatments in development aimed at preventing vision loss.

Wrapping It Up!

The recent wave of mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical industry shows that big players are not just expanding their reach — they are facilitating innovation and improving patient care on a global scale! These deals highlight the importance of collaboration in tackling the toughest medical challenges. As the industry continues to make headway, keeping an eye on these big moves will be crucial for the people involved in the pharma or healthcare industry. The future is full of possibilities, and these mergers are obviously just the beginning.